3 Iskander Linwood, the other name of death

Yohana's head banged against the window as the carriage suddenly came to a halt. Pushing the curtain aside, she found it was already night and she was in the palace. Why did the journey end so early?

The door of the coach opened. Yohana stepped out and saw a man in front of her, who was there to receive her.

"Our King is waiting for you inside," said the man on the right. "I am Baxter, the beta to the Werewolf King," he introduced himself to Yohana.

"Follow me, Yohana," Baxter said and she went behind him. The soldiers lined up with their heads low in the beta's respect and as they entered the corridor of the palace, the servants too stopped to bow at him.

Baxter dropped Yohana in a chamber, which had only one lamp glowing at the center. "The King will soon be here," Baxter said and walked away, leaving Yohana alone in the room.

"Don't they have enough lamps?" Yohana murmured. She tucked her loose hair strands that would come in front of her face behind her ear, patiently waiting for Isakander to show himself.

In the back of her head, she had a plan to keep herself safe from Isakander. Yohana had thought that if he tried to do something against her wish, Yohana would not hesitate to kill him. She knew the Werewolf King would be faster than her, so she needed to be calculative.

Yohana heard the quiet footsteps as if someone entered. For some reason, she felt the air getting cold around her. Yohana narrowed her eyes when the man dressed in black robes walked past him like a gust of a wind and went to the sofa to sit on it.

"Yohana Arlington, how does it feel like to be sold?" asked Isakander in his icy cold voice. His one leg rested over the other and the right side of his face was covered in a mask, hiding a horrendous burning scar behind it.

Yohana was curious to know about his full face rather than this half one.

"You are my slave. So, always keep your eyes down and answer me right away. I ask a question," Isakander stated. His every word was full of authority.

"I was never told to lower my gaze," Yohana said with a proud and determined tone. She wanted Isakander to discard her as soon as possible. Her way of speaking was not humble given the fact that in front of her was seated the King of all the werewolves.

Isakander smiled and in an instant, he appeared in front of her, thus startling her. His calloused fingers held her chin up while the pointed nail of his index finger of the other hand remained on her neck.

"That's why I wanted to buy you as my slave, Yohana. I have heard about the proud female werewolf, who didn't even fumble on her parents death. I'll make sure your eyes remain low in front of me," he said.

Yohana noticed the smirk formed across his lips and it did intimidate her.

However, she couldn't fathom why Isakander wanted her as a slave. One fact was clear to her that he didn't need the territory of the Night Silver Pack.

"It seems your foolish brother didn't tell you. His territory is under my rule now," Isakander stated and lowered his hand from her neck.

Yohana was shocked to learn that. Alvaro not only sold her, but also gave the territory to Isakander.

"I have many precious things in my palace. And I added a possession like you in my list," Isakander stated and let go of her chin. "Serve me well, Yohana. I don't like mistakes at all. And don't try to be smart with me," he pronounced.

Yohana clenched her fists feeling like punching him hard on his face for calling her a mere 'possession' of his.

"What if I refuse to serve you? What will you do?" Yohana asked, looking sternly into his eyes.

"Then, I have to show you what I can do to your people. I don't differentiate in genders when it comes to punishment nor do I feel anything," Isakander affirmed.

"You hurt weak, which shows you are a coward," Yohana remarked with a tinge of mockery in her tone.

"Should I show you the act of courage then?" Iskander challenged her. "If I am a coward, then what are you, Yohana? Aren't you the same? You got weak because of your pack, but they didn't care for the woman, who once saved them from the attacks of the other packs when her parents died," he said while boring his gaze at Yohana.

Whatever he said was the truth. She had to fall weak because of her people, who didn't even care for her life.

"You may call yourself brave, but it's an act of foolishness, Yohana," said Iskander with a grin. Now, his every word made her feel guilty for thinking about them. Alvaro had already given the territory to this ruthless ruler in front of her.

"Serve me in bed tonight. I will wait for you," Iskander said and he went back to the sofa with golden legs.

"What? I'll die but never let you own my body," Yohana pronounced. She swiftly took out the dagger from inside the long sleeve of her gown and placed it on her neck, ready to cut her vein.

"Do it," Iskander said with a neutral expression on his face. Because it was half covered with the mask, she was unable to read his face.

At the same time, Yohana didn't anticipate that he would not stop her.

Iskander stood on his feet and strode to her. He held the hilt of the dagger and pushed it closer to Yohana's neck. Her breath hitched as her hand trembled in fear.

Iskander snickered to see that and snatched the dagger from her. "You are scared to even embrace death," he remarked. "Next time, I'll punish you if you threaten me like this," he stated while peering into my eyes.